“If you listen to your body when it whispers, you won’t have to hear it scream.” -Unknown

There are countless reasons to commit to your health and fitness. What are yours? My love of movement has taken me on a journey and has always brought me joy. From a young age, I found it in classes at Valley Oak School of Dance and on the field of Oakdale Youth Soccer. I experienced it in the trenches of Oakdale Jr. High through cheerleading with Ms. Ortiz and later in Mrs. Usher’s dance class and on the OHS Dance Team. After spending the latter part of high school away at a religious boarding school, I returned home to Oakdale, determined to heal and find peace and purpose.

A friend invited me to a yoga class at MJC, and although I was skeptical, I decided to give it a try. To my surprise, my anxiety melted away to the sound of Debbie Wvolski’s voice. With each deep breath, I felt more at home in myself and at peace in my body. Yoga, the mother of all movement, became my sanctuary. I signed up at Village Yoga Center, soon enrolled in teacher training, and have spent the last 23 years immersed in studying, practicing and teaching yoga.

Along the way, I’ve discovered different forms of movement that brought me joy; weight lifting rekindled my competitive edge with bodybuilding. I became a personal trainer and delved into studies of nutrition, kinesiology, holistic health, meditation, various other forms of fitness, including Pilates and Barre, and most recently, aerial yoga and aerial acrobatics. Each of these disciplines has enriched my life in unique ways, offering not only the benefits of improved health and fitness but also mental clarity and emotional resilience. But even more, they have each served me with the joy of movement and purpose at different points in my journey. 

Now movement is showing love to my aging body that gave me my two beautiful daughters, 18 years apart. It’s the powerful way it combats my stress and anxiety, leaving me feeling more like myself as I navigate postpartum challenges at 41.

The journey of health and fitness is deeply personal, but it’s one worth embarking on again and again at every stage of life. When we find movement that makes our soul come alive, fitness and health are a natural side effect. Whether you join me for yoga, pilates, aerial, or pursue a different style of movement, the key is to find one that brings you joy, peace and purpose in the body you’re in now. Listen to the voice of your body, honor its needs and boundaries, and you will discover a profound sense of joy and well-being that transcends the physical. Your body is your home for life, and caring for it is the most empowering gift you can give yourself at every age and stage. 

-Katelyn Hasley, The Fix Yoga, Aerial Arts & Fitness